Kevin White took this big bluegill from a pond in the Ozarks. / Ken White

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Ken

WHITE

A nice-sized bluegill that fell victim to a small Castmaster spoon. / Ken White

Ione Thimmig, of Springfield, shows her nephew, Dakota Lowry, how she threads a worm on a hook to catch bluegill. / Ken White

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Without a doubt, bluegill ounce-for-ounce are one of the fiercest of fighting fish. Nearly every lake, pond or stream has a population of bluegill and are caught by anglers young and old alike.

Recently, Jack Nelson and his son, Bobby, looked over a farm pond where, in the late afternoon sunlight, they saw dimpling rises in the weeds along the shoreline. That was all they needed to see, knowing there were bluegill in the pond. So, out came the ultralight fishing gear, and the fun started.

“It took less than an hour before we had all the big bluegill we wanted to clean, along with two nice-sized bass,” Nelson said. “It proved that once again farm ponds can save the day when nothing is hitting in the big impoundments.”

Some of the best fishing and catching is when the heat is on. Many times, starting in late June through August, bluegill have saved the day.

“It’s amazing just how many fishing ponds are available in our area,” Nelson said. “Nearly every one of them hold fish, especially fighting and tasty bluegill.”

There are several things that make bluegill fishing good in the heat of summer, including the action they give on ultralight gear or a fly rod.

Many kids catch their first fish in a pond where they can usually depend on getting some action.

For years, I worked on trying to get the bluegill named the state fish. What better fish in the state gives so much to so many? Bluegill hit everything from flies to worms and are caught by kids as well as grandparents. They fight big for their size and are great on the table. Best of all, they are found statewide and furnish a lot of fun for everyone who goes after them.

It really doesn’t really matter what time of day you fish for bluegill because they seem always ready for a treat. In fact, some of the best fishing for these fighters can be in the heat of the day when insects are busy and the fish are waiting for one to get close enough to grab a bite.

George Larson, of Sedalia, has two ponds, about an acre each, where he keeps the area around the ponds mowed so it can be fished easily by his grandchildren.

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“I get a kick each time the kids go fishing for bluegill in the ponds,” he said. “They always have some action and learn a lot about fishing.”

Bluegill and kids go together.

“My first fish was a big bluegill from a farm pond,” said Bob Wilson, of Lebanon. “When I caught that little fighter, I was hooked on bluegill fishing. Back then, I was using a worm for bait, but since then I have caught bluegill on everything from crickets to spinners. They will hit nearly everything you throw at them. There have been many days when bluegills have kept me from going home fishless. They would get my vote for the state fish.”

Back in June 1963, Mike Giovanina, of Columbia, caught the state record bluegill that tipped the scales at 3 pounds while fishing in a farm pond. The world record bluegill, according to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, was one weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces. That fish was caught in 1950 from Alabama. Recently a bluegill weighing more than 2 pounds was taken from Table Rock Lake.

Tom Davis is a tournament angler and goes after big bass, but he said, “I remember the first fish I ever caught. It was a big bluegill and got me started fishing in a big way. I know many of today’s tournament anglers started fishing by catching bluegills. They fight hard and are a lot of fun to catch on light gear.”

The weather may get hot in Missouri summers, but the fishing can be even hotter if you try popping bugs on a fly rod. The action will soon make you forget about the weather.